In case you thought my window treatment was hard to do, I figured I’d share the steps I took to make it. I’ve told you often enough how I’m not a great seamstress, but my best method for learning is just hands-on. Visual works for me and that’s how I usually figure things out.
The whole window treatment.I just shared the whole kitchen last week, so click here for that post. You can see that I took this treatment all the way to the crown molding and that way, not much of my window is covered. Just skims the top of the window and allows in maximum light.
I loved having 3 fabrics mixed on my old window treatment and knew that I’d like to do the same with this one. Only this time, I wanted to keep it simpler. Stapled on a small board and hung on an L bracket was the method I chose to achieve this one.I think my board is 3″ by 1″. You just want enough depth to have the board hang over the L bracket slightly. Then screws are used to anchor the L bracket to the wall and again screws attach the board in place once you’re ready to hang it. Easy, I promise!First, I measured the board and cut it about an inch or so on either side of my molding, so that it would wrap just to the edge of the window molding. Then, cut your fabric to fit around the board. I took into account the return on the board, so that the fabric would be wrapped around the board all the way to the wall. You’ll see that better below. I cut a strip of the striped fabric and initially folded it over and sewed it, but when I got ready to staple it on the board, I decided I needed extra to wrap on top of the board, so I ended up cutting it to show more of the stripe. So, you really don’t even need to double this, just figure out the width you want and cut enough to sew onto the main fabric. I think mine is about 4-5″ in depth. Just be sure you add extra to staple on top of the board. I had to cut 2 strips and sew them together in the middle. Just iron that seam down and it will not even show. I sewed it on a white part so it just disappeared.
Then just sew a straight seam and attach the header to the main fabric. You will need to be pretty exact when you cut the main fabric. If you have a large carpenters square, that would help make sure you keep a straight line when you are cutting across the fabric. I had to go back and trim off excess fabric on one side to keep my main fabric nice and straight. You don’t want one side longer than the other, so as long as you measure as you go, it will work out just fine. I decided to use some leftover white fabric that I used for my slipcover to line the back. I just think fabrics hang better when they have a lining and since I had plenty of that fabric, I just cut strips and used it as lining. I sewed it to the top and down the sides of my main fabric. Left the bottom open, cause I wasn’t sure how I was going to attach my ruffle and get the lining in place too.
See, I definitely just figure things out as I go.
I turned the sides over and ironed and sewed them down. Next, I cut strips out for my yellow ruffle on the bottom. I didn’t have much of this fabric left, so I pieced it together and sewed little seams until I had enough of a strip to start putting pleats in. I did use some lining fabric I had to line the back of this piece too. Simply sew right sides together and flip over and iron. At the open end, I started putting in the pleats.
I used a loose method of just pulling pleats in the fabric as I went along. They aren’t measured precisely and if I had extra fabric I would have made them a little deeper. As it is, they are a small box pleat, but when attached look more like a ruffle. But, I am still happy with the way it turned out. I did iron them down once I finished sewing and that made them a little more crisp and less ruffly. Here’s a good visual link from Kelly, the slipcover girl for making pleats.
Putting right sides together again, I simply sewed the yellow pleated strip to the bottom of my treatment. And now, I’m about done. YAY!
Another trip to the ironing board to iron the seams down. I learned this from my mom growing up. I can’t even tell you how many times I watched her sew and press the seams as she went along. Something stuck, not much else, but that part did. 🙂This is the last step. My lining is still open on the bottom and the ruffle has been sewed on. Instead of doing this part on the machine, I simply did a whip stitch. Did you learn about whip stitching growing up? My mom taught me that one too. And a whip stitch goes fast when you start on one side and move to the other with your needle and thread. A whip stitch is just using a single strand of thread with a knot in it and you catch the next stitch across the fabric as you sew it down. Hard to explain, but it’s easy to pull fabrics together like this when you don’t want to sew it on the machine. Lots of pillows are finished off this way.
Now, we are ready to staple it on the board.I had some extra batting, so I stapled that on first. Just seemed like softening the fabric on the board would be better, but it’s really not necessary. Not sure it added anything to the final product. I started on one corner, stapled it around the turn and added the staples on the top of the board that will not be seen. Just keep moving around the board until you have it all attached. You’ll want to be sure you keep the striped fabric (or whatever you use on top) the same distance hanging down in front. I had to adjust that as I went along so a tape measure will help with that. You want it even on both sides with the fabric that is seen.
I pressed this with the iron too to keep it nice and crisp. Time to hang this bad boy up now! This is the fun part. I screwed my small L brackets into the wall on either side of my window molding. Just outside the molding and I opted to hang my treatment all the way to the crown molding, so my L bracket went right under the crown.
Then, I just sat the board on top of the L bracket, screwing a screw from underneath into the wood. It doesn’t take a lot to keep this in place. It’s pretty lightweight. And that’s how I did it! It has a slight return against the wall and I like how it looks finished. I did end up taking it down and adding the trim later. After looking at it, I just knew that adding some wide charcoal trim would totally finish it off and it did. I found this wide trim at Hancock Fabrics and it was just what I needed. To me, trim just adds the icing on the cake. I attached the trim with fabric glue, so no seams to show. One final step of adding a dark tack on top of the trim here, anchors the treatment to the side of the window molding and holds it in place. These fabrics just make me happy and smile every time I walk in the kitchen!
So, I hope this gives you the courage to try a sewing project yourself. I am not kidding when I say that I really have no idea what I’m doing when I sew. It’s trial and error. If you handed me a pattern to try to figure out, I would pull my hair out. This is not the professional way, it’s the Rhoda way. But hey, if it works, that’s all that matters to me.
Do you sew and would you give something like this a try?? I hope you do!
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I’ve added some updated pics under My House link on my main page, so check those out if you’d like!
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And don’t forget to sign up for the Tamron lens giveaway if you haven’t already! Some lucky winner will get a new lens to try out and it’s a fantastic one.
Mary says
You did a wonderful job! I love the combination of fabrics you used too!
La says
It turned out wonderfully, Rhoda. I need new window treatments in the dining room and may give this a go. Have a great week! La
Donna says
You do beautiful work and are inspiring!! Would love to see a pic of the whole window!
Ricki Jill Treleaven says
Very pretty. I love the fabrics you chose!
Jane H. says
You did such a great job!! You have more talent than you think to accomplish this without a pattern or instructions. I just love it!
Janell Beals says
I am crazy about your mix of fabrics and the trim!! Wonderful! Janell
Holly says
I think I could probably do that with the exception on the ruffle. I’m not good with ruffles but I may just try it because you made it look pretty easy. Thanks for the tutorial!
Alison @ Ingredients, Inc. says
Wow@ great post! Love the awesome tutorial
Amanda says
Cool window treatment! Thanks for the info!
And thanks so much for stopping by my blog to comment! I really appreciate it!
Luciane at HomeBunch.com says
Rhoda!
I remember you weren’t looking forward to do it, but, my friend, look at this!!! Really, you’re did a fantastic job! I loveeeee the fabrics, they go very well together and it connects perfectly with your decor. But again, what else to expect from you? 😉
By the way, I sent you a message on twitter. I just found out about a really cool online magazine (Australian) and I made a post about it. If you have some time, please go take a look, I think you’ll like it.
Have a great week!
Luciane at HOMEBUNCH.COM
Marty@A Stroll thru Life says
Your tutorial is fabulous and I love the treatment. Great colors and fabrics. Hugs, Marty
jeanne @ inspiring ideas says
Not hard at all … if you can sew a straight line, that is! 🙂 Oh, I have high ceilings, no one would know! Looks beautiful!!
Tammy@InStitches says
Yay you did it ! I LOVE the combination of fabrics you chose. Here’s a pro tip….. Fold you side hems over double and you won’t have any raw edges.
Amanda @ Serenity Now says
Great tutorial, Rhoda! I do sew…straight lines. 😉 I really love the mix of fabrics, and the final product is so pretty. 🙂
Claudia says
This weekend, I decided that I wanted this kind of window treatment on my kitchen widow, but I didn’t know how to do it. Now, thanks to you, I do! Thank you SO much.
Marie @ Sally Lee by the Sea says
Thanks for the tutorial — I’m not much of a seamstress but your step by step photos really help.
I love the three fabrics together – wonderful!
Diane @ InMyOwnStyle says
Hi Rhoda-
Great tutorial. It must have taken as long to write this post as is was to make the window treatment -so much detail which makes it so easy to understand. I am a “visual” doe/learner also and do everything by seeing it first.
I love the mix of fabrics and colors you used they look perfect in the room. Your photos are so clear and vivid. Did you use your new camera?
My best- Diane
Kat says
Hi sweet friend! I haven’t been blog visiting much lately, but it’s been nice “catching up” with you tonight.
The window treatment really looks good! Love the fabrics you chose.
Hugs,
Kat
Camille says
Wow! You did a truly beautiful & wonderful job!! I love it.
Happy Tuesday!
oxox-Camille